World Cup 2026 dey hot as Cape Verde prepare to face Uruguay for Miami. Dis na historic match for Group H, with Cape Verde making their first ever World Cup appearance. The Blue Sharks, as dem dey call am, don already shock many by holding Spain to a goalless draw for their opening match. Now dem dey look to continue their dream run against Uruguay.
Cape Verde coach Pedro ‘Bubista’ Brito talk say e believe for im team. ‘We come here to compete and show we fit perform at this level,’ e yarn for pre-match press conference. ‘Before, people think e impossible, but with hard work and competitiveness, we fit do am.’ The coach say the reaction from fans don be huge, not only for Cape Verde but for communities for Europe and United States. Dem dey proud of the performance.
Despite the attention, Bubista say e dey focused on keeping players grounded. ‘I dey happy because I get players wey committed and intense. Regardless of result, dem dey maintain right mentality. We want continue to play with courage.’ The coach acknowledge say Uruguay na big team with great history and tradition, but e say dem go try use their strengths and create problems for Uruguay.
On the other side, Uruguay dey led by coach Marcelo Bielsa, who don leave im mark on the team. The 4-3-3 system dey built for direct football, pressing opponents high. De goal-scorer for opener, Maxi Araujo, dey for midfield, while defender Ronald Araujo dey miss starting XI due to injury. The team get one change from their 1-1 draw with Saudi Arabia: Agustin Cano replace Viña.
For Cape Verde, goalkeeper Josimar Dias, known as ‘Vozinha‘, don become international superstar after shutting out Spain. The tiny archipelago off coast of west Africa get population of about 525,000, making dem the smallest population for any group-stage game. Only Curaçao (185,000) dey smaller. The squad get players from 14 countries, with more players born for Rotterdam than for capital Praia.
Uruguay lineup: Muslera; Sanabria, Olivera, Caceres, Varela; Bentancur, Ugarte, Araújo, Valverde, Cano; Viñas. Cape Verde lineup: Dias (Vozinha); Lopes Cabral, Borges (Diney), Lopes (Pico), Moreira; Pina, Rodrigues, Monteiro, Mendes, Arcanjo; Tavares (Benchimol). Telmo Arcanjo and Gilson ‘Benchimol’ Tavares enter starting lineup, while Jovane Cabral, Laros Duarte, and Dailon Livramento dey out.
Both teams dey aim for positive result to boost hopes of reaching knockout stages. Cape Verde coach say dem go continue believing for their ability. ‘We want to continue expressing ourselves and playing our football,’ e tok. The match dey set to be exciting, with many fans wondering if Uruguay fit find way past Vozinha and if Cape Verde fit score goal of their own.
